THE KURDISH THIRD INTIFADA (UPRISING)
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The Kurdish population in South Eastern Turkey preserve the right of self determination like any other nation in the world. They fought Turkey for an autonomy during the years 1984-1993, then a second round in the years 2004-2012, following the arrest of their leader Abdullah Öcalan in Kenya, on 02/15/1999, and his death sentence in 08/2000.
After the sentence was put on hold Turkey conducted more negotiation with the Kurds, which brought upon a new “Peace process” .
Recently, following the armament of the kurds in Syria, the growing aspirations of the Kurds in Iraq to an independent state, the cooperation and mutual support between the different Kurdish factions, which were known for their ongoing dissension, Turkey began to worry that their nightmare, a strong Kurdish independent State , will be formed on its Eastern border and even in parts of South-Eastern Turkey.
Turkey. therefore, supported I.S.I.S in order to contain, at least partially, the Kurdish national ambitions and watched from the side as ISIS destroyed, in late 2014, the Kurdish town of Kubane, just two k”m from its border . Then ISIS suicide bombers killed Kurdish activists, first in Suruc, on 07/20/2015 and the second time in Ankara the capital, on 10/10/2015, when two suicide bombers blew themselves in a pro-Kurdish gathering. The suicide bombers were Turkish nationals operated by the Islamic State. The Kurds are sure that the Turkish Intelligence was behind the attacks.
On 12/20/2015 Turkey launched a comprehensive military offensive already killing over 110 Kurdish “militants”. mainly in and around Diyarbakir city & province
Although rooted in the countryside, militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have shifted focus in recent years to towns and cities in the southeast, digging trenches and setting up barricades in streets to keep security forces away.
Security sources and residents said around 300 houses in Cizre had been damaged by the clashes and undetonated mortar shells lay inside buildings.
Electricity was cut in many neighborhoods in Silopi as power transformers were damaged. Food and drinking water were running scarce, residents said. About 19% of Turkish population are Kurds .
But that time, unlike previous Kurdish Intifadas, the Kurds will be supported by Russia, following the downed of a Russian fighter jet by Turkey, on 11/22/2015, and the commitment of Russian President Vladimir Putin to “tragic consequences” for Turkey if they will not fully apologize and compensate Russia over the incident. Indeed Russian officials have extended, on 12/21/2015, an invitation to the leader of Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party to visit Moscow. Giving the rift between Sunni Turkey and Shiite Iran it is most likely that the Kurdish fighters will have no shortage in weapon and ammunition .
It seems the situation in Turkey is deteriorating as the country is swept away, almost uncontrolled, to the magnetic global war ignited in Syria and Iraq with no end in the horizon .
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Related topics ;
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10/2015- SHOOTOUT WITH MILITANTS IN TURKEY LEAVES 9 DEAD
09/2015 – TURKEY TRAPPED IN ITS NEW WAR
09/2015 – TURKISH COMPLICATION – 16 KIDNAPPED IN BAGHDAD
07/2015 – A NEW WAR IN THE MEAS”T
07/2015 – TURKISH DOUBLE PLAY
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